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Human Rights & Conflict Resolution Office

Human Rights Code of British Columbia

The Human Rights Code specifies fourteen grounds on which discriminatory practices are prohibited in the Province of British Columbia. Not all are protected in the eight areas of the Code’s jurisdiction.

The protected grounds of discrimination in British Columbia

  • Race
  • Colour
  • Ancestry
  • Place of Origin
  • Political Belief (only protected in employment advertisements & employment)
  • Religion
  • Marital Status
  • Family Status (not protected in purchase of property)
  • Physical or Mental Disability
  • Sex
  • Sexual Orientation
  • Age over 19 (not protected in purchase of property)
  • Unrelated criminal conviction (only protected in employment and union and association membership)
  • Lawful source of income (only protected in tenancy premises)

Application of the Human Rights Code

The Human Rights Code specifies eight areas of jurisdiction over which it has authority to prohibit discrimination. The areas of jurisdiction over which the Human Rights Code has authority are:

  • Discriminatory publication
  • Discrimination in accommodation, service and facility
  • Discrimination in purchase of property
  • Discrimination in tenancy premises
  • Discrimination in employment advertisements
  • Discrimination in wages
  • Discrimination in employment
  • Discrimination by unions and associations

New training initiative for all UFV employees

Help build a positive and inclusive workplace: complete your mandatory “Respect in the Workplace” web-based training now.

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